Penalties for false Amber Alerts proposed

Sen. Mike Goschka, R-Brant, is pushing for felony penalties if people falsely report children missing, leading to law enforcement bulletins known as Amber Alerts.

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved bills proposed by Goschka and Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi. The legislation calls for up to four years in prison and fines as high as $2,000.

Goschka said false reporting "has become a serious problem across the country, and it is important that we establish laws on the books now to send a strong message that such a terrible act will be met with severe consequences if committed in Michigan. Each hour that passes after a child is abducted makes the chances of a safe recovery more difficult, and the intent of this legislation is to assure that all possible resources are available in the event that they are needed."

A prepared statement cited these cases:

* In Tulsa, Okla., a woman told police her child had been abducted when her car was stolen from a grocery store parking lot. She later recanted, telling police that she wanted a higher priority placed on finding her stolen vehicle.

* In Edmond, Okla., a girl who was out with her boyfriend convinced her brother to file a false report so that her parents would not know why their daughter wasn't at home.